Philly coffee shop ranked #1 in America
Ultimo Coffee in South Philly's Newbold section gets a shout-out from DailyMeal.
Philly coffee shop ranked #1 in America
Michael Klein, Philly.com
Philly's Ultimo Coffee, which started at 15th and Mifflin Streets in 2009 and opened a second shop last year at 22d and Catharine Streets, just snagged the #1 spot on TheDailyMeal.com's list of America’s Best Coffee Shops.
"What makes Ultimo tick — and brings in Philadelphians in flocks? Simplicity, and a little bit of love," the blurb reads, in part. "And many will argue that Philadelphia, often seen as the underdog to the big cities of the Northeast, is hands-down the winner for the best cup of coffee because the coffee scene there is hardly home to the snobbery that can come with 'Third Wave' coffee." No atty-tude!
Town Hall in Merion Station - open about two years on Montgomery Avenue - came in at #33 nationally. The blurb reads, in part: "If we could transport the vibe from Cheers — where everyone knows your name — it could only be found at Town Hall Coffee Co." (Owner Tim Noble is about to open a second shop, downtown, in the Ben Franklin House at Ninth and Chestnut Streets.)
TheDailyMeal says its drink editor, Marcy Franklin, went through hundreds of listings of coffee shops. A panel of coffee aficionados and surveyors - coffee bloggers, coffee roasters, shop owners and baristas - then weighed in.
Editors also calculated the national “craft” coffee chains to be ranked among the list of independently owned coffee shops (in order to be considered “national,” the chain must have shops in more than one state).
After Ultimo, the top five was rounded out by Gimme Coffee of Ithaca, N.Y.; Barista of Portland, Ore.; Courier Coffee of Portland, Ore.; and Cafe Grumpy of New York City.
Philly newcomer Joe was ranked #9 on the list.
Ultimo not only is a great name. It's the owners' name. Aaron and Elizabeth Ultimo set up their flagship location behind St. Agnes Hospital in a corner store shared with Brew, the craft-beer bottle shop owned by South Philadelphia Tap Room's John Longacre. Their Southwest Center City location is also shared; it's downstairs from Counter Culture's training center. Coincidence, perhaps, but both Ultimo and Town Hall sell Counter Culture Coffee.
Reached just after the list's midnight release, Aaron Ultimo said: "I'm obviously completely proud, honored and utterly blown away."
In a related story...Mayor Nutter authorizes property re-reassessments for every house in a 4 block radius around Ultimo, raising the perceived city value of every 100k rowhome into the million-dollar range, with corresponding property taxes due immediately.— Santa Satan- Actually if you're counting the metro area, both DC and Boston are substantially larger in population— intelliwoman
- If I go there and ask for a cup of coffee-flavored coffee. Will they make me one?— DonQ
- Philly will never have a #1 sports team, they might as well have a decent coffee shop....— toiletofphilly
- Philly has no "downtown". We locals call the area Center City. And is the Daily Menu national, and how?— gb
- Jovie: "It tastes like a crappy cup of coffee". Buddy the Elf: "No, it's the world's BEST cup of coffee".— EaglesPhilliesIrish
- If you are talking about combined statistical areas, Philly is fourth behind, NY, DC, and Boston. And seventh overall in the country.— Domenic
- If you are talking about combined statistical areas, Philly is fourth behind, NY, DC, and Boston. And seventh overall in the country.— Domenic
- If you are talking about combined statistical areas, Philly is fourth behind, NY, DC, and Boston. And seventh overall in the country.— Domenic
- If you are talking about combined statistical areas, Philly is fourth behind, NY, DC, and Boston. And seventh overall in the country.— Domenic
- My daughter lived around the corner from 15th and Mifflin in 2009, so I had frequent occasion to patronize Ultimo right after it opened. Yes, indeed, most delicious and lovingly prepared coffee! I hope they're keeping up the good stuff now that they've expanded. Expansion can be-ach up quality.— Dave Clemens
- actually Philly is the fifth largest city overall and 6th largest metro...both 2nd on the east coast behind NY— AshbourneRd
- I buy a can of Melita Classic Blend every week in my local Thriftway. I've had all kinds of coffee from all over the world and have been in all kinds of coffee houses all over the country. I prefer my Melita every time.. My kitchen is the number one Coffee Shop as far as I'm concerned so, to each his own.— sadtruthis-
- In my opinion the best coffee ever is Folger's Colombian.— Disco Dave
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I was shopping and stopped in to meet a few girlfriends with my portable cup of Joe in tow. I drank my own and tasted a sip of theirs. It wasn't anything special to me.
